Last longer (lose fewer troops)
Why: the longer your dragons survive, the more times they strike — and you win the close fights. Everything that helps you take hits:
What helps directly
Reduce damage taken based on your troop type
In Upgrades, raise the Defense of your troop type (archers, pikemen, cavalry or shields).
Reduce damage taken based on your dragons' breed
In Upgrades, raise the Defense of your dragons' breed (Champion, Warrior, Hunter or Sentinel).
Reduce the damage of your WHOLE army at once
Put a dragon at the Center whose aura reduces enemy damage (Champions have the strongest aura, e.g. Rhysarion). The Center spreads its aura to the whole army.
Let a tank dragon take the hits
Put a dragon on Taunt (e.g. Vaeldra, Vhagar): it draws attacks and protects the rest of your army.
Take more hits / heal your troops in combat
Raise the habits that reduce damage taken, or that restore troops during the battle.
Take hits better based on the damage type received
Raise Instinct (absorbs physical), Intelligence (tactical) and Initiative (fire) — via stars and level.
Give a defensive stat bonus (green affinity)
A dragon on GREEN affinity for its type also takes hits better: its defensive stats go up by +20%.
Related bonuses (good to know)
More troops = more margin before melting
The more troops an army carries, the longer it holds before breaking. Increase your armies' capacity.
Take less against the game's enemies (PvE)
In Upgrades, raise "Sturdy Defense": you take hits better from beasts, points and defenders.
Avoid damage by striking first
Killing the enemy before its counterattack is damage you don't take. Raise your Initiative.
Add a permanent bonus kept between seasons
Develop your Heirlooms: permanent stat bonuses, kept from one season to the next.
Other needs · Winning my battles